VACATION  VISITS 

TO 

OUR  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


SECOND  ISSUE 


REPRINT  FROM 

Greensboro  Daily  Record 

September  4th  and  5th,  1911 


GREENSBORO,  N.  C. 
1911 


0 3.1^ 
3c  r \*W 


VACATION  VISITS  TO  OUR 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


While  it  is  now  a well  established 
fact  that  our  citizens  take  much  pleas- 
ure in  the  growth  of  their  public  li- 
brary and  are  always  glad  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  in  its  material  support, 
it  is  also  true  that  there  are  many 
who  find  little  leisure  from  business 
and  household  cares  to  inspect  its 
daily  work  as  a civic  and  educational 
factor  in  the  life  of  our  community. 

So  it  comes  to  pass  that  The  Rec- 
cord,  publishes  today,  under  a number 
of  well  known  names,  as  many  mes- 
sages of  good  cheer  from  our  library 
service,  each  given  from  a citizen’s 
standpoint  and  descriptive  of  that 
feature  of  library  endeavor  which  ap- 
peals most  strongly  to  the  interest  of 
the  writer. 

Although  the  library’s  call  for  these 
papers  was  made  during  the  heat  of 
midsummer  the  cordial  response 
which  now  appears  in  these  columns 
bears  testimony  to  the  unfailing  loy- 
alty of  Greensboro  in  behalf  of  a 
home  institution. 


NEWSPAPER  FILES 


By  Mayor  T.  J.  Murphy. 

In  regard  to  the  value  of  newspa- 
per files  in  libraries,  I wish  to  say 
that  I consider  such  files  of  very 
great  value  to  citizens  generally,  ^nd 
especially  to  city,  county,  and  State 
officials;  for  when  they  want  to  know 
of  a fact,  law,  ordinance,  or  circum- 


stance, that  has  held  sway  so  long 
that  “the  memory  of  man  runneth 
not  to  the  contrary,”  and  its  validity 
and  reason  is  ever  brought  in  ques- 
tion, there  is  nothing  so  convincing 
as  to  draw  forth  from  the  archives  of 
antiquity  some  old  age-worn  newspa- 
per and  reproduce  the  original  ac- 
count. 

I consider  it  best  to  have  these  pa- 
pers filed  in  some  library  and  kept  by 
a librarian,  or  otherwise  the  party 
examining  will  often  take  a clipping 
or  a copy  away  and  lose  it.  It  is 
also  a well  known  fact  that  a person 
can  never  find  a newspaper  that  he 
is  especially  searching  for,  even  if  It 
be  only  a few  days  old,  much  less  one 
a decade  or  a century  of  age. 

In  fact  I regard  newspaper  files  in 
our  library  as  one  of  the  most  valua- 
ble and  accurate  methods  of  keeping 
local  history  straight. 

And  permit  me  to  say  that  I regard 
the  files  of  local  and  State  papers 
kept  in  the  Greensboro  Public  Library 
as  being  practically  perfect  in  system, 
comprehensive  and  accurate. 


LIBRARY  INDEXES 


By  Mrs.  J.  B.  Gunter. 

A noted  writer  has  said,  “The  bet- 
ter part  of  every  man’s  education  is 
that  which  he  gives  himself  and  it  is 
for  this  that  a good  library  should 
furnish  the  opportunity  and  means.” 


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Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


Although  in  comparison  with  many, 
our  Public  Library  is  small,  yet  it 
furnishes'  ample  opportunity  for  a lib- 
eral education  and  the  indexes  to  be 
found  here  as  the  “open  sesame”  to 
its  stores  are  both  modern  and  valu- 
able. We  live  in  a day  when  even 
the  small  libraries  may  greatly  broad- 
en their  activities  through  the  use  of 
indexes  which  have  been  issued  in  un- 
precedented number  and  variety  with- 
in the  past  decade  and  it  has  ever 
been  the  policy  of  our  own  library  to 
favor  as  far  as  possible  the  purchase 
of  such  working  tools  in  order  to  in- 
crease the  efficiency  of  the  reference 
service. 

There  may  be  no  short  cuts  to 
learning,  but  indexes  certainly  short- 
en the  distance  to  information.  They 
are  the  keys  which  unlock  the  doors 
of  knowledge  and  make  the  way  clear 
and  accessible. 

The  indexes  for  general  use  at  our 
library  may  be  spoken  of  under  three 
heads. 

First,  The  Publishers  Book  Indexes 
— among  which  are:  The  United 
States  Catalog,  Supplement,  and  the 
Cumulatives  Indexes,  giving  books  in 
print,  the  names  of  publishers,  prices 
of  the  books,  and  also  of  a large  num- 
ber of  valuable  pamphlets.  These 
are  published  monthly  and  yearly. 
The  model  catalogue  prepared  for  the 
American  Library  Association  in  the 
New  York  State  Library  and  publish- 
ed by  the  Library  of  Congress,  with 
the  catalogue  of  the  great  Pittsburg 
library  are  often  of  particular  service 
in  the  comparison  and  selection  of 
books.  The  Review  Digest  is  an  in- 
dex which  contains  descriptive  notes, 
excerpts  from  the  criticisms  of  the 
best  English  and  American  reviews, 
upon  books  of  current  issue.  The 
character  and  scope  of  books,  the 


price,  publishers  and  a concise  esti- 
mate of  each  book  is  given. 

Second,  Indexes  of  the  Contents  of 
Books — comprising:  Granger’s  Index 
to  Poetry  and  Recitations,  giving 
author,  title  and  first  lines;  the 
A.  L.  A.  Portrait  Index,  A.  L.  A. 
Index  to  General  Literature,  Anno- 
tated Guide  to  American  History, 
Classified  Index  to  Standard  Fiction, 
and,  for  the  children’s  department, 
Wilson’s  Children’s  Catalog  in  two 
parts,  part  one  being  a guide  to  the 
best  reading  for  young  people  based 
upon  twenty-four  selected  library 
lists,  while  part  two  is  an  analytical 
subject  index  covering  the  contents 
of  five  hundred  of  the  books  contained 
in  part  one.  Our  library  uses  the  Bul- 
letin of  Bibliography,  a number  of 
other  very  valuable  Bibliographies 
(the  most  important  being  that  of 
North  Carolina  History  by  Dr.  Steph- 
en B.  Weeks),  and  has  several  com- 
plete indexes  to  separate  works,  in- 
cluding Educational  Association  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Bureau  of  Education  Re- 
ports, Proceedings  of  the  National 
Conference  of  Charities  and  Correc- 
tions, World’s  Best  Literature,  Farm- 
ers’ Bulletin,  Year  Books  of  the  U.  S. 
Department  of  Agriculture  and  oth- 
ers. 

Third,  Index  to  Magazines.  It  has 
been  said  “that  the  magazine  repre- 
sents the  intellectual  activity  in  its 
terminal  bud,”  and  it  is  certainly  true 
that  one  of  the  most  important  parts 
played  in  our  library’s  life  is  the  daily 
use  of  the  magazine.  This  calls  for 
an  index,  and  those  to  be  found  at  the 
desk  are:  Poole’s  (listing  old  maga- 
zines), Wilson’s  Reader’s  Guide  and 
the  Electic  Index,  to  date.  These  cov- 
er the  contents  by  title,  author  and 
subject  of  thousands  of  miscellaneous 
articles,  and  a number  of  important 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


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government  pamphlets.  Of  this  mag- 
azine material  the  library  has  files  of 
all  its  own  periodical  list  from  date 
of  subscription  supplemented  by 
many  valuable  magazine  gifts,  mak- 
ing sets  of  Century,  Country  Life  in 
America,  Harper’s,  Review  of  Re- 
views, Scribner’s,  World’s  Work,  etc. 

Last  year’s  magazine  index  gives 
the  field  of  current  literature,  dates 
and  events  reported  in  the  press  as  a 
guide  to  using  daily  papers. 

The  children’s  magazines  play  an 
important  part  in  the  lives  of  the 
army  of  children  who  frequent  the 
library  and  a pleasing  sequel  to  the 
campaign  for  children’s  books  last 
fall  was  the  purchase,  among  others, 
of  a full  set  of  St.  Nicholas,  covering 
a period  of  thirty-seven  years.  The 
index  to  this  set  is  now  in  the  library 
and  whether  for  reference  or  to  bring 
some  long  forgotten  story  to  mind  it 
is  of  much  pleasure  and  value. 

The  latest  bibliographical  contribu- 
tion under  this  division  is  the  Dra- 
matic Index,  covering  the  field  of  the 
stage,  giving  real  name,  age  and  na- 
tionality of  actors  and  actresses, 
plays,  and  also  a portrait  index  of 
actors  and  actresses. 

The  entire  list  of  indexes  to  which 
all  can  have  access  covers  a broad 
field  of  information  and  many  sub- 
jects not  mentioned  in  this  account. 

These  volumes  are  conveniently  lo- 
cated at  the  central  desk  where  any 
assistance  required  in  their  use  may 
be  readily  given  by  the  librarian  in 
charge. 


THE  LIBRARY  FOR  THE  BUSY 
MAN 

By  S.  A.  Holleman. 

The  average  busy  man  needs  di- 
version as  well  as  recreation.  This 


is  imperative  mentally  as  well  as 
physically.  The  physical  demand  is 
so  readily  felt  that  various  and  ef- 
ficient means  are  active  in  almost  any 
conceivable  direction.  The  mental 
need  is  not  so  keenly  felt  by  the  in- 
dividual and  is  too  readily  neglected. 

Philanthropy,  endorsed  and  direct- 
ed by ' thinking  man,  realizing  this 
need,  has  wisely  provided  splendid 
mental  gymnasiums  in  localities  con- 
venient to  the  masses  of  busy  men. 

The  public  library  is  not  for  stu- 
dents alone,  or  children,  or  the  leisure 
class,  but  provides  also  means  for 
mental  diversion  of  the  man  of  affairs 
who  is  daily  and  strenuously  occupied 
by  things  that  too  often  lead  the  mind 
along  a narrow  channel  and  tend  to 
dwarf  the  bro’ader  concepts  of  life. 

The  busy  man  needs  fiction  as  well 
as  golf,  history  as  well  as  tennis,  bi- 
ography as  well  as  boating.  The  one 
is  as  essential  as  the  other  for  keep- 
ing a sane  and  successful  activity. 

The  library  in  Greensboro  is  keenly 
alive  to  this  truth  in  having  abundant 
opportunity  for  mental  diversion  in 
the  highest  class  of  assorted  means 
open  constantly  for  the  asking;  If  the 
magazines  lead  one's  inclination,  they 
are  there.  If  fiction  rests  and  re- 
freshes, there  is  found  abundant 
choice.  Good  wholesome  biography 
never  fails  in  diverting  but  also  de- 
veloping character,  and  here  we  have 
an  elaborate  supply.  There  is  no  need 
for  the  busy  man  to  pore.  Science 
and  philosophy  and  even  literature 
may  be  left  to  those  whose  duty  it  is 
to  pore  and  study.  The  busy  man 
needs  only  that  which  leads  the  mind 
and  not  that  which  forces;  that  which 
rests,  not  that  which  exhausts. 

Experience  has  shown  the  advan- 
tage of  a tired  mind  refreshed  from  a 
pleasant  flight  of  imagination  or  fol- 


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Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Liurary 


lowing  character  or  incident  showing 
results  from  causes,  and  with  such  an 
excellent  assemblage  of  books — and 
books — there  can  be  no  complaint  in 
Greensboro  for  a reasonable  busy  man 
to  say  he  has  not  the  opportunity. 

Did  you  ever  put  into  practice  the 
opportunity  of  ready  reference  found 
there?  You  may  well  be  surprised. 
The  need  for  quick  reference  for  re- 
liable information  on  any  peculiar 
matter  is  becoming  more  and  more 
imminent  and  not  confined  to  scien- 
tific research.  Scarcely  any  business 
exists  but  that  nuggets  of  immediate 
and  valuable  information,  more  relia- 
ble than  polished,  are  to  be  found 
there;  and  readily  too. 

You  of  Greensboro,  you  who  show 
your  appreciation  of  the  library  by 
word  and  money,  you  who  are  too 
busy,  who  want  it  for  your  children 
or  for  the  other  fellow:  Go  there 
yourself  a few  times  and  delve  a lit- 
tle and  find  treasures  that  are  yours 
for  the  taking,  that  will  lift  you  from 
the  drudge  of  life  and  ifiake  you 
broader,  deeper,  and  happier — and 
better. 


OUR  NORTH  CAROLINA  HISTORY 
COLLECTION 


By  W.  C.  Smith. 

The  value  of  a library  to  a com- 
munity may  be  said  to  depend  upon 
three  chief  assets:  the  extent  of  its 
resources,  that  is,  the  amount  of  real- 
ly valuable  material  which  it  con- 
tains; its  accessibility,  or  the  degree 
in  which  this  material  is  properly 
classified  and  conveniently  arranged; 
and  the  qualifications,  mental  and 
moral,  of  those  who  have  the  library 
work  in  charge.  Moral  qualifications 
are  essential,  for,  whatever  the  in- 
tellectual ability  and  special  profes- 


sional training  ,of  the  librarians,  they 
will  fail  in  their  high  calling  unless 
they  bring  to  their  work  a liberal 
measure  of  patience,  sympathy,  un- 
selfishness, and  tact,  and  a real  zeal 
for  public  service. 

We  are  to  eschew  personalities.  Of 
this  last  factor,  therefore,  we  may 
not  speak  save  to  say  that  it  is  a 
truly  vitalizing  force  in  our  library, 
rendering  what  might  by  some  be  con- 
sidered a small  collection  of  books, 
an  ever  increasing  source  of  helpful- 
ness and  uplift  to  large  numbers  of 
our  people. 

But  as  to  the  other  factors  of  use- 
fulness— the  extent  of  our  resources 
and  their  accessibility — what  shall  be 
said  relative  to  the  North  Carolina 
history  collection? 

When  we  take  into  consideration 
the  fact  that  our  library  has  had  an 
existence  of  only  ten  years;  that  the 
amount  annually  available  for  the 
purchase  of  books  is  exceedingly 
small;  and  that  material  relating  to 
our  State  history  is  both  costly  and 
difficult  to  obtain;  we  may  well  con- 
gratulate ourselves  on  the  large  and 
valuable  collection  of  Caroliniana  al- 
ready acquired.  Here  are  full  sets 
of  the  Colonial  and.  State  Records; 
most  of  the  works  of  the  older  his- 
torians, including  Hawks,  Swain,  Gra- 
ham, Foote,  Caruthers  and  Wheeler; 
Tarleton’s  “Campaigns,”  Lee’s  “Cam- 
paigns” and  “Memoirs,”  Lawson  and 
Fanning  in  reprints,  Jones’  “Defence,” 
and  the  “Roster  of  North  Carolina 
Troops.”  The  principal  works  of  our 
more  recent  historians,  Mrs.  Spencer, 
Battle,  Moore,  Schenck,  Weeks,  Ra- 
per,  Hill,  Ashe,  Connor — are  all  here, 
as  are  also  the  valuable  “History  of 
the  North  Carolina  Regiments”  and 
the  “Biographical  History  of  North 
Carolina.” 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


The  collection  also  includes:  many 
valuable  biographies,  as,  for  example 
the  lives  of  Caldwell,  Otway  Burns, 
Governor  Tryon,  Coffin,  Macon,  and 
Harnett;  several  Confederate  text- 
books by  North  Carolina  authors;  and 
single-volume  studies  of  special  sub- 
jects such  as  church  and  denomina- 
tional annals,  town  and  county  his- 
tories, the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of 
Independence,  the  Revolution,  and 
Civil  War  and  Reconstruction. 

Of  annnual  publications  bound  in 
permanent  form  there  are  the  N.  C. 
Year  Books,  the  Reports  issued  by 
the  State’s  penal,  charitable  and  edu- 
cational institutions  and  the  volumes 
published  by  the  N.  C.  Geological  Sur- 
vey, the  State  Board  of  Health,  the  N. 
C.  Historical  Commission,  and  the 
departments  of  Education  and  Agri- 
culture. There  are  also  files  of  the 
N.  C.  Booklet,  the  N.  C.  Review,  the 
South  Atlantic  Quarterly,  and  many 
valuable  numbers  of  the  University 
Magazine,  the  Elisha  Mitchell  Scien- 
tific Journal,  the  James  Sprunt  his- 
torical monographs,  and  the  Johns 
Hopkins’  “Studies  in  Historical  and 
Political  Science.”  Covering  the  last 
decade,  the  library  owns  files  of  the 
leading  college  publications  including 
those  of  the  University,  the  State  Col- 
lege of  Agriculture,  the  Normal  and 
Industrial  College,  Trinity,  Wake  For- 
est, Davidson,  Guilford,  and  Greens- 
boro Female  College. 

Perhaps  the  most  frequently  con- 
sulted material  on  local  history  is 
that  found  in  the  files  of  newspapers. 
These  include  “The  Greensboro  Pa- 
triot” for  the  years  1840-’52,  1857-’61, 
and  1870-73;  “The  Times,”  1856-’57, 
“The  North  State,”  1871-73,  “The  Lin- 
coln Progress,”  1878-’82,  and  complete 
files  of  all  local  papers  for  the  past 
six  years. 


Space  remains  for  the  mention  of 
but  one  more  feature  of  the  depart- 
ment— its  exceedingly  valuable  collec- 
tion of  pamphlets.  These,  more  than 
five  hundred  in  number,  consist  of 
addresses,  memoirs,  biographical 
sketches  and  personal  reminiscences, 
most  of  them  first  hand  studies,  and, 
therefore,  the  best  of  all  source  ma- 
terial. This  collection  is  especially 
rich  in  material  relating  to  Greens- 
boro and  Guilford  County. 

The  description  here  attempted  is 
both  inadequate  and  incomplete,  but 
it  may  perhaps  suggest  to  those  in- 
terested in  North  Carolina  history 
that  our  library  possesses  in  accessi- 
ble form  a truly  valuable  collection 
of  material  which  all  are  cordially  in- 
vited to  use.  Perhaps,  too,  it  may 
suggest  to  some  the  happy  thought  of 
enrolling  themselves  among  public 
benefactors  by  making  a personal 
contribution  of  one  or  more  books  or 
pamphlets  which  would  here  be  safely 
preserved  and  at  the  same  time  ren- 
dered accessible  to  a wider  public 
than  would  be  possible  under  indi- 
vidual guardianship. 

This  is  a working  collection  and  the 
librarians  are  happiest  when  it  is 
oftenest  consulted.  Here  the  pupils 
of  our  graded  schools  may  find  ma- 
terial for  their  compositions  and  de- 
bates; the  college  students  help  on 
their  essays  and  orations;  and  teach- 
ears,  the  data  needful  to  supplement 
and  vitalize  their  chosen  texts.  Here 
the  speaker  who  wishes  information 
on  obscure  points  in  our  State  or 
county  annals,  the  minister  desirous 
of  familiarizing  himself  with  the  early 
history  of  his  denomination,  the  wo- 
man who  has  papers  or  programmes 
to  prepare  for  club  or  society,  the  edi- 
tor, special  investigator,  and  general 
reader — may  find  much  that  is  of 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


value  to  themselves  and  their  audi- 
ences. Here,  finally,  the  historian  and 
the  writer  of  historical  fiction  may 
quarry  at  will,  and,  embodying  the  re- 
sults of  their  investigations  in  other 
forms  may  merit  a meed  of  approval 
similar  to  that  now  bestowed  upon 
Caruthers,  Wiley,  Schenck,  and  O. 
Henry. 


THE  CONFEDERACY 


By  Col.  James  T.  Morehead. 

At  the  suggestion  of  the  librarian 
of  the  Public  Library,  I visited  the 
library  for  the  purpose  of  a cursory 
inspection  of  the  books  and  literature 
specially  referring  to  the  War  be- 
twen  the  States,  with  the  view  of 
forming  some  opinion  as  to  the  his- 
torical value  of  the  collection,  which 
I had  been  requested  to  give. 

I was  surprised  at  the  number  and 
variety  of  the  histories,  biographies, 
periodicals,  and  personal  reminis- 
censes  contained  in  the  collection — 
from  which  history  and  facts  upon 
which  to  write  history  could  be  based. 

They  contain  entertainment  for 
readers  of  a philosophical  turn  of 
mind,  for  lovers  of  romance,  lovers  of 
exciting  stories  of  situations  of  dan- 
ger and  narrow  escapes — in  fact  for 
youth  and  those  of  mature  years. 

Of  course  I am  not  to  be  understood 
as  vouching  for  the  alleged  historical 
truth  portrayed  in  the  several  produc- 
tions— on  the  contrary  the  reader 
must  make  many  grains  of  allowance 
for  the  statements  of  the  different 
writers,  warped  and  colored  by  their 
personal  views. 

No  history  of  important  events — 
especially  great  upheavals  of  society 
and  more  especially  when  such 
changes  are  accompanied  by  war  and 
the  shedding  of  blood — written  recent- 


ly after  the  happening,  is  reliable: 
time  must  have  elapsed  sufficient  to 
permit  the  subsidence  of  passion  and 
prejudice  and  the  mellowing  effect  of 
calm  reflection. 

No  history  can  be  absolutely  relied 
upon  written  within  half  a century  of 
the  exciting  time  of  the  happening  of 
events  intended  to  be  recorded.  In 
fact  until  the  actors  in  the  drama  or 
tragedy  and  their  contemporaries 
have  passed  to  the  “Great  Beyond” 
or  at  least  until  their  views  have 
been  so  far  sobered,  that  they  can 
look  upon  the  subject  from  the  point 
of  view  of  one  who  is  seeking  the 
truth  alone.  Many  of  the  so-called 
histories  and  biographies  written 
within  twenty-five  years  after  Appo- 
mattox are  unreliable — tinged  and 
warped  as  they  are  by  the  partisan 
feelings  and  emotions  of  the  waiters 
and  still  worse  many,  especially  the 
early  ones,  were  written  with  the 
view  of  making  money,  and  conse- 
quently the  writers  endeavored  to 
pander  to  the  passions  and  prejudices 
of  those  for  whose  patronage  they 
were  written  and  to  tickle  the  ego- 
tism, party  pride  or  patriotism  of  the 
reader. 

It  will  require  many  decades  yet 
to  correct  in  the  minds  of  the  average 
man  and  reader  more  especially  of 
the  young  and  many  and  gross  errors 
contained  in  these  earliest  histories 
and  biographies,  although  within  the 
last  few  years  conservative  writers 
have  effected  a great  change  in  the 
views  of  the  educated  and  non-parti- 
zan  readers  and  the  truth  has  begun 
to  be  recognized. 

The  library  contains  over  one  hun- 
dred volumes  of  official  records  and 
in  addition  thereto  near  two  hundred 
and  fifty  volumes  of  history,  biogra- 
phies and  periodicals  to  say  nothing 


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7 


of  cotemporary  issues  of  newspapers. 
Among  these  can  be  found  “The  Rise 
and  Fall  of  the  Confederacy”  by  Pres- 
ident Davis,  “The  War  Between  the 
States,”  by  Vice-President  Stephens, 
“Service  Afloat”  by  Admiral  Semmes, 
“Confederate  States  Navy”  by  Scharf, 
“N.  C.  Regimental  Histories”  written 
by  soldiers  and  edited  by  Chief  Jus- 
tice Clark,  “Confederate  Military  His- 
tory by  States,”  “The  History  of  the 
Guilford  Grays,”  written  by  its  last 
Captain,  John  Sloan,  a native  of  this 
city — of  great  local  interest;  “Moore’s 
Roster”  not  fully  complete  or  entirely 
accurate  but  giving  a great  deal  of 
information.  By  mentioning  these 
volumes  I by  no  means  wish  to  be  un- 
derstood as  intimating  that  they  are 
the  only  ones  worth  reading. 

There  can  be  found  on  the  shelves 
also  stories  and  reminiscences  of 
prison  life — war  poety,  etc.  There 
are  two  books,  however,  to  which  I 
would  call  particular  attention  and 
recommend.  Col.  Henderson’s  “Stone- 
wall Jackson  and  the  Civil  War.” 
Col.  Henderson  was  an  officer  in  the 
British  Army  of  a superior  education 
and  fully  capable  of  writing  on  the 
subject — unbiased,  impartial,  and  per- 
sonally conversant  with  many  of  the 
events  of  which  he  wrote.  His  work 
received  favorable  criticism  of  Brit- 
ish and  American  soldiers  and  civ- 
ilians, so  much  so  that  he  had  been 
solicited  to  write  the  history  of  Lee 
and  his  campaign  by  both  British  and 
Americans  and  was  engaged  in  wri- 
ting such  history  when  he  was  called 
“to  cross  the  river.”  In  his  death  the 
lovers  of  truth  and  still  more  the 
soldiers  of  the  Confederacy  suffered 
the  greatest  possible  loss. 

The  other  work  is  a biography  of 
Gen.  Bedford  Forrest,  by  Dr.  Wyeth. 
It  is  a revelation  to  us  of  the  Atlantic 


States.  In  fact  until  the  last  year  of 
the  war  when  he  was  created  a Lieu- 
tenant General  the  Confederate  Gov- 
ernment did  not  appreciate  him  or 
his  services,  owing  partly  to  the  fact 
that  he  was  persona  non  grata  with 
one  of  the  commanders  of  our  west- 
ern army  (not  Gen.  Joe  Johnston)  in 
whose  reports  Forrest  never  received 
justice.  We  in  the  east  knew  little  of 
the  western  campaigns  during  the 
war  and  looked  upon  the  army  of 
Northern  Virginia  with  which  we  had 
the  greatest  personal  interest  as  The 
Army,  but  of  late  years  the  reputation 
of  the  western  army  has  grown  to  be 
fully  equal  to  that  of  the  army  of 
Northern  Virginia  (except  as  to  com- 
manders), did  harder  fighting  than 
we  did,  and  had  “foemen”  more 
“wfirthy  of  their  steel”  than  we  had. 

As  a military  prodigy  Forrest  was 
not  second  to  Stonewall  Jackson.  He 
was  a meteor.  The  wars  of  Charles 
the  XII  of  Sweden,  of  Frederic  the 
Great,  the  Napoleonic  wars  never  pro- 
duced his  equal  nor  his  like. 

Dr.  Wyeth’s  book  is  as  interesting 
as  a romance.  I read  it  several  years 
since  and  hope  to  reread  it.  It  is  full 
of  surprises  and  one’s  interest  never 
flags. 

I fear,  writing  currente  calamo,  I 
have  already  exceeded  the  limit 
though  I have  not  suggested  one-half 
the  pleasure  and  information  one  may 
get  by  visiting  and  using  our  public 
library. 


SOUTHERN  LITERATURE. 


A Suggestion  as  to  the  Use  of  the 
Material  in  the  Greensboro  Public 
Library. 

By  C.  Alphonso  Smith. 

It  has  been  said  that  in  Germany  it 
takes  you  three  days  to  get  a book 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


out  of  a library,  in  England  three 
hours,  in  America  three  minutes.  The 
comparison  is  fairly  apt,  because  in 
America  we  do  not  look  on  libraries 
as  cold  storage  plants  but  rather  as 
storage  batteries.  They  are  for  ser- 
vice, prompt  and  efficient  service,  and 
they  are  serviceable  not  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  books  that  they 
house  but  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber of  books  that  they  send  out  into 
daily  use.  The  time  will  come,  I 
think,  when  the  entire  community  will 
go  to  school  to  its  public  library,  when 
it  will  be  considered  bad  form  not  to 
give  something  or  bequeath  some- 
thing to  the  public  library,  and  when 
every  public  library  will  be  as  fire- 
proof as  the  bank-safe. 

As  to  the  topic  assigned  me,  it  is 
a pleasure  to  say  that  few  libraries 
anywhere  are  better  supplied  with 
material  for  a systematic  study  of 
Southern  literature  than  the  Public 
Library  of  Greensboro.  There  are 
few  universities,  North  or  South,  old 
or  young,  that  would  not  cast  covet- 
ous eyes  upon  some  of  the  volumes 
on  Southern  literature  that  the  au- 
thorities of  the  Greensboro  Public  Li- 
brary have  managed  to  secure. 
Among  these  may  be  mentioned  Bas- 
kervill’s  “Southern  Writers”  (vols.  1 
and  2),  a series  that  marked  the  be- 
ginning of  a critical  effort  to  under- 
stand the  literature  of  the  South; 
Davidson’s  “Living  Writers  of  the 
South”  (1869),  a quaint  but  highly  en- 
tertaining account  of  literary  activity 
in  the  South  in  ante-bellum  days; 
Mrs.  Mary  Forrest’s  “Women  of  the 
South  Distinguished  in  Literature” 
(1861)  and  Mrs.  Mary  Tardy’s  “Liv- 
ing Female  Writers  of  the  South” 
(1872),  in  which  for  the  first  time  the 
groupings  are  by  States;  Miss  Mil- 
dred Rutherford’s  “The  South  in  His- 


tory and  Literature”  (1907),  an  un- 
wieldy book  but  indispensable;  Miss 
Louise  Manly’s  “Southern  Literature 
from  1579  to  1895”  (1895),  badly  put 
together  but  deserving  all  honor  as  a 
pioneer;  Miss  Emily  Mason’s  “South- 
ern Poems  of  the  War”  (1867),  a pa- 
thetic collection  but  one  that  en- 
shrines the  living  spirit  of  those  war- 
rior years  from  1861  to  1865. 

But  these  books  are  not  all  by  wo- 
men. In  fact  only  a very  small  per- 
centage were  written  by  women.  Carl 
Holliday’s  “History  of  Southern  Liter- 
ature” (1906),  Mims  and  Payne’s 
“Southern  Prose  and  Poetry”  (1910), 
W.  P.  Trent’s  “Southern  Writers” 
(1905),  C.  W.  Hubner’s  “Representa- 
tive Southern  Poets”  (1906),  W.  L. 
Weber’s  “Selections  from  the  South- 
ern Poets”  (1901),  and  Alderman  and 
Harris’s  “Library  of  Southern  Litera- 
ture,” (15  vols.,  1907-1910),  show  that 
Southern  men  as  well  as  Southern 
women  have  recognized  that  here  was 
an  undeveloped  field.  It  is  undevelop- 
ed, however,  no  longer.  The  ground 
has  been  covered  in  a general  way, 
the  leading  facts  have  been  ascer- 
tained, accurate  summaries  have  been 
made,  bibliographies  have  been  pre- 
pared, and  the  histories  of  American 
literature  that  are  now  coming  from 
the  Northern  presses  show  the  result. 
Three  times  as  much  space  is  given 
to  Southern  writers  in  these  histories 
as  was  ever  given  before.  The  effect 
has  been  felt  also  in  foreign  lands. 
In  Engel’s  “History  of  American  Lit- 
erature,” published  in  Leipsic  in  1897, 
the  only  Southern  writers  mentioned 
are  Washington  Allston,  George  W. 
Cable,  Joel  Chandler  Harris  (two 
lines),  and  Thomas  Jefferson.  In 
Flugel’s  “History  of  American  Litera- 
ture,” published  in  Leipsic  in  1907,  no 
Southern  writer  is  omitted  who  ought 


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9 


to  be  included  and  none  included  who 
ought  to  be  omitted. 

The  material,  therefore,  already  col- 
lected and  published,  has  been  used 
and  used  to  good  advantage.  It  should 
be  said  at  the  outset  that  Southern 
literature  is  just  as  national  and  just 
as  American  as  New  England  litera- 
ture. It  is  called  Southern  simply  to 
designate  the  place  of  its  origin.  The 
name  does  not  imply  limitation  of 
appeal  or  sectionalism  of  purpose,  but 
only  the  circumstances  of  birth. 
American  literature  as  a whole  is  com- 
pounded of  the  literatures  of  five 
great  sections:  the  New  England 
States,  with  Massachusetts  as  the  lit- 
erary-center; the  Middle  States,  with 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  as  the 
litreary  centers;  the  Middle  West, 
with  Ohio  and  Indiana  as  the  literary 
centers;  the  Far  West,  with  Califor- 
nia as  the  literary  center;  and  the 
Southern  States,  in  which  no  one 
State  takes  precedence  as  does  Massa- 
chusetts in  New  England.  These 
great  sections  are  thoroughly  and 
equally  American  and  no  history  of 
American  literature  is  worth  the 
name  that  does  not  take  into  consid- 
eration the  contribution  to  literature 
that  each  has  made.  The  reason  why 
the  writers  of  the  South  were  so  long 
omitted  is  simply  because  their  works 
were  scattered  and  inaccessible. 

Three  methods  suggest  themselves 
for  using  the  material  in  the  Greens- 
boro Public  Library.  First:  Let  a 
brief  study  be  made  of  what  each 
Southern  State  has  achieved  in  litera- 
ture. The  material  can  be  found  in 
the  “Library  of  Southern  Literature,” 
and  the  librarians  would  take  pleas- 
ure in  grouping  all  the  writers  in 
these  volumes  according  to  States.  A 
few  evenings  given  to  North  Carolina, 
a few  to  South  Carolina,  a few  to 


Georgia,  etc.,  would  result  in  an  in- 
teresting survey  of  the  whole  field 
and  would  give  the  club  or  reading 
circle  or  school  or  private  reader  a 
better  knowledge  of  literature  in  the 
South  than  could  possibly  be  obtained 
through  any  one  volume  yet  publish- 
ed. 

Second.  Put  the  emphasis  not  on 
States  but  on  kinds  of  literature.  Let 
the  question  be:  What  has  the  South 
done  in  (1)  lyric  poetry,  (2)  epic  poe- 
try, (3)  dramatic  poetry,  (4)  oratory, 
(5)  short  stories,  (6)  biographies  and 
autobiographies,  (7)  essays,  (8)  nov- 
els, and  (9)  histories?  This  also  would 
furnish  a bird’s  eye  view  of  the  whole 
and  would  give  the  reading  club  or 
individual  a first-hand  grip  on  what 
had  been  read. 

Third.  Confine  the  reading  and 
study  to  North  Carolina  writers. 
There  is  no  history  or  even  handbook 
of  North  Carolina  writers  but  the  ma- 
terial can  be  gathered  from  the  books 
named,  especially  from  Mrs.  Tardy’s 
“Living  Female  Writers  of  the  South,” 
Hight  C.  Moore’s  “Poetic  Literature 
of  North  Carolina”  (1907.  a bibliogra- 
phy), and  “The  Library  of  Southern 
Literature.”  This  would  be  a mote 
intensive  course  than  either  of  the 
other  two  and  would  doubtless  lead 
to  more  definite  and  permanent  re- 
sults. Why  should  it  not  lead  to  an 
accurate  “History  of  North  Carolina 
Writers?”  The  work  will  surely  be 
done  by  some  one.  Why  not  by  some 
reading  club  or  literary  circle  of 
Greensboro?  Let  the  work  be  under- 
taken collectively  but  be  well  organ- 
ized and  under  the  direction  of  some 
competent  leader.  Let  it  be  under- 
taken not  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
that  North  Carolina  was  first  on  Par- 
nassus or  last  at  the  Pierian  Spring 
but  let  it  show,  as  it  will  show,  that 


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her  literary  output  has  at  least  been 
underrated  because  never  presented 
en  masse.  One  is  safe  in  saying  that 
Mary  Bayard  Clarke,  Hinton  Rowan 
Helper,  Theophilus  H.  Hill,  John 
Charles  McNeill,  Christian  Reid  (Mrs. 
Tiernan),  John  Henry  Boner,  Henry 
J.  Stockard,  William  Sidney  Porter, 
Walter  Page,  Archibald  Henderson, 
and  Edwin  Anderson  Alderman  are 
names  that,  to  mention  no  more, 
would  enrich  the  literature  of  any 
State. 


LESSONS  IN  LIBRARY  PICTURES 
FOR  THE  CHILDREN. 

By  Mrs.  Lucy  H.  Robertson. 

Stepping  over  the  threshold  of  the 
Children’s  Room  of  our  well  appoint- 
ed City  Library,  one  is  impressed  by 
the  evident  thought  and  care  that 
have  been  expended  in  making  this 
a place  of  inspiration  as  well  as  of 
instruction.  Amidst  a variety  of  ob- 
jects tending  to  the  above  named  re- 
sult, nothing  more  strongly  appeals 
to  the  appreciation  of  the  visitor  than 
the  handsome  pictures  adorning  the 
walls,  each  speaking  its  own  story, 
and  making  its  appeal  through  the 
eye  that  most  effective  of  all  avenues 
to  the  inner  consciousness.  These 
pictures  are  all  the  valued  gifts  of 
friends,  and  a glance  around  the  room 
will  reveal  to  the  discerning  eye  a 
unity  of  purpose,  which  at  a casual 
survey  one  would  scarcely  think  pos- 
sible from  the  apparent  diversity  of 
subjects. 

The  wall  on  the  left  as  one  enters 
is  an  illuminated  page  from  history, 
filled  with  lessons  of  patriotism  and 
heroism.  As  the  eye  rests  upon  the 
dignified  and  noble  portraits  of  those 
two  fine  types  of  manhood  and  wo- 
man hood,  George  and  Martha  Wash- 


ington, a volume  of  Colonial  and  Rev- 
olutionary history  is  unrolled  before 
the  mind,  while  the  beautiful  picture 
of  Mount  Vernon,  that  ideal  home  of 
General  and  Mrs.  Washington,  re- 
calls all  the  finest  traditions  of  the 
elegant  social  life  of  the  Old  South 
in  its  palmiest  days. 

Just  beyond  these  portraits  the  eye 
is  arrested  by  a fine  picture  of  that 
pioneer  in  public  schools,  Rev.  Calvin 
H.  Wiley,  and  thus  we  have  a con- 
crete example  of  another  of  the  great 
departments  of  human  life  and  inter- 
est, that  of  education,  for  truly  this 
man  devoted  his  life  to  that  cause, 
and  through  it  to  the  uplifting  of  the 
people  of  his  native  State.  In  him  is 
represented  a bit  of  local  history,  for 
our  own  county  of  Guilford  proudly 
claims  him  as  a son,  while  his  State- 
wide connections  and  influence  is  fit- 
ly symbolized  by  the  rich  and  grace- 
ful folds  of  an  unusually  handsome 
silk  flag  of  North  Carolina  draped 
above  his  benevolent  face.  Just  be- 
yond Dr.  Wiley  is  a handsome  por- 
trait of  the  peerless  Robert  E.  Lee, 
whose  splendid  military  bearing  and 
noble  face  must  appeal  to  every 
Southern  heart,  and  to  all  true  hearts 
everywhere  which  recognize  the  great- 
ness of  glorious  achievement  both  in 
the  days  of  war  and  of  peace. 

On  the  right  of  the  entrance  a fine 
photograph  of  the  naturalist,  Audu- 
bon, opens  a broad  field  in  natural  his- 
tory, for  the  little  ones  who  look  in- 
to his  face  and  learn  something  of 
bird  lore  from  the  handsome  colored 
charts  close  by  can  but  receive  some 
vision  of  the  great  world  teeming 
with  its  varied  forms  of  life,  and 
learn  the  lessons  which  Audubon 
would  teach  of  mercy  and  gentleness 
to  all  animated  creatures. 

Philanthropy  next  claims  our  atten- 


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11 


tion  in  the  strong  yet  gentle  face  of 
Frances  E.  Willard.  The  story  of  her 
life  is  that  of  one  of  the  greatest  re- 
forms that  has  ever  swept  this  coun- 
try, and  reached  out  with  world-wide 
waves  to  the  farthest  shores.  Her 
winning  personality  is  remembered  by 
us  of  the  older  generation,  and  we 
trust  that  the  sweet,  womanly  face 
beaming  so  benignly  from  its  place 
on  the  wall  may  inculcate  in  our 
young  people  her  ardent  zeal,  for  the 
cause  of  humanity. 

In  their  own  especial  niche  on  the 
opposite  wall  three  exquisite  water- 
color  panels,  representing  scenes  and 
characters  from  Uncle  Remus’s  folk 
stories,  most  charmingly  introduce  lit- 
erature as  a factor  in  the  development 
of  child-life.  In  the  panel  on  the  left 
is  strikingly  presented  that  classic 
of  the  nursery,  “The  Fox  and  the  Tar 
Baby,”  wherein  is  laid  the  snare  for 
that  most  wary  of  all  the  beasts,  Brer 
Rabbit.  On  the  right  Brer  Coon  is 
represented  in  all  the  dignity  of  the 
brave  who  scorns  the  coward,  while 
in  the  central  panel  we  behold  the 
hero  himself,  Brer  Rabbit,  standing- 
in  exultant  attitude  as  if  in  reminis- 
cent enjoyment  of  how  his  native  wit 
has  once  more  enabled  him  to  escape 
the  pitfalls  laid  by  his  enemies.  Sure- 
ly the  children,  and  those  of  child- 
like hearts  though  older  in  years,  owe 
a debt  of  gratitude  to  Uncle  Remus 
for  his  gentle  humor  and  his  simple 
mirthful  stories  of  the  queer  ways 
of  those  creatures  of  the  imagination 
which  he  contrives  to  make  seem  so 
real. 

Religion,  the  golden  clasp  that 
binds  together  all  varied  interests  in 
one  harmonious  whole,  is  typified  by 
the  calm  and  tender  beauty  of  Mul- 
ler’s Holy  Night.  From  its  place  on 
the  eastern  wall  this  picture  leads 


our  thoughts  to  the  “Wise  Men”  of 
old  as  they  follow  the  Star  of  Bethle- 
hem to  the  manger-cradle  of  the  in- 
fant Redeemer.  One  can  scarcely  im- 
agine a more  beautiful  object  lesson, 
or  one  that  will  influence  more  benefi- 
cently the  lives  of  the  little  ones 
whose  early  impressions  are  being 
formed  by  contemplation  of  the  pic- 
tured story  of  that  great  life  that  had 
its  beginning  in  the  manger  of  Beth- 
lehem and  its  closing  on  the  cross  of 
Calvary. 

The  visitor  turns  away  from  the 
Children’s  Room  feeling  that  fortun- 
ate indeed  are  the  children  who  have 
evere  before  them  such  beautiful  and 
inspiring  lessons  presented  in  such 
attractive  forms. 


A LITTLE  MUSEUM. 

By  Mrs.  W.  C.  A.  Hammel. 

A feature  probably  uinque  in  library 
service  is  to  be  found  in  the  Greens- 
boro Public  Library — “The  Little  Mu- 
seum for  Children.”  This  small  col- 
lection of  local  minerals,  bird  eggs 
and  nests,  Indian  arrowheads,  moths 
and  butterflies,  is  usually  surrounded 
by  a circle  of  boys  and  girls  who  hang 
over  the  cases  by  the  hour,  some 
curiously,  some  studiously  observing 
the  specimens,  in  many  instances 
bringing  bits  from  their  own  collec- 
tions for  comparison  and  identifica- 
tion. 

The  value  of  this  adjunct  to  the  li- 
brary is  already  apparent  in  the  grow- 
ing demand  for  books  on  nature  study 
and  on  history.  The  young  readers’ 
tastes  are  diverted  from  fiction  to  na- 
ture books,  to  books  of  travel  and  ad- 
venture, biography,  science,  and  his- 
tory. The  children’s  inherent  inter- 
est in  nature  and  their  investigative 
attitude  of  mind  lead  them  to  seek 


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further  information  about  these  inter- 
esting specimens.  “Those  who  come 
to  stare  remain  to  study,”  and  they 
naturally  carry  their  investigations 
beyond  the  walls  of  the  library  into 
the  fields  and  byways  to  study  at  first 
hand  and  in  their  native  environment 
these  and  other  things  not  in  the  col- 
lection. Their  interest  in  real  things 
is  fostered,  they  renounce  that  blind 
and  slavish  subjection  to  books  which 
means  arrested  development,  and  they 
learn  not  only  to  see  and  to  investi- 
gate for  themselves  but  to  make  sys- 
tematic and  intelligent  use  of  books 
as  aids  or  tools  to  their  investigations 
and  researches. 

Graven  in  the  marble  wall  in  the 
entrance  to  Bowdoin  College  Library 
are  these  lines  which  bespeak  the 
broadening  tendency  in  modern  li- 
brary work: 

“Who  reads  and  reads  and  does  not 
what  he  knows 

Is  one  who  plows  and  plows  and  nev- 
er sows.” 

A museum  in  the  library  is  just 
one  more  help  in  the  movement  for 
a broader,  fuller  education.  This  mu- 
seum may  become  an  integral  part 
of  the  apparatus  for  elementary  in- 
struction in  the  public  schools.  The 
community  benefits  by  its  influence 
for  culture  and  betterment,  for  it 
stimulates  studious  thought  in  older 
people  as  well  as  in  the  children.  It 
is  a means  to  the  extension  and  dif- 
fusion of  popular  information  and 
ought  to  lead  from  a vain  pride  in  lo- 
cal resources,  whether  natural  or  his- 
torical, to  a wiser,  more  profitable  use 
and  conservation  of  them. 

These  small  beginnings  are  full  of 
suggestions  for  their  further  develop- 
ment. A full  collection  of  local  min- 


erals, woods,  flowering  plants,  insects, 
birds,  etc.,  would  be  an  impulse  to 
the  study  of  these  from  an  economic 
standpoint  as  regards  their  value  or 
their  detriment  in  agriculture,  in  the 
manufactures,  etc.  To  these  might 
be  added  with  profit  a permanent  ex- 
hibition of  local  manufactured  pro- 
ducts showing  mounted  specimens  il- 
lustrating the  results  of  the  various 
stages  in  the  process  of  the  manufac- 
ture, say  of  cotton  goods,  from  the 
raw  material  to  the  finished  product. 
This  would  undoubtedly  encourage  the 
study  of  the  development  of  the  in- 
dustries, of  the  scientific  principles 
and  processes  which  they  involve, 
and  of  the  inventions  which  have 
brought  them  to  their  present  state 
of  perfection. 

Then,  there  might  be  special  mu- 
seum days.  An  Indian  week,  for  in- 
stance, when  the  townspeople  might 
be  asked  to  loan  for  the  week  any 
Indian  relics  or  articles  of  Indian 
handicraft  in  their  possession.  Special 
historical  occasions  might  be  illustra- 
ted in  a similar  manner.  Thus  would 
a receptive  field  be  ready  for  the  com- 
ing of  the  proposed  national  traveling 
museum  when  that  shall  eventually 
come  to  be. 

If  all  these  things  should  come  to 
pass,  however,  they  would  soon  over- 
tax the  capacity  of  the  library  build- 
ing as  well  as  the  patience  and 
strength  of  even  the  most  helpful  of 
librarians.  Perhaps  before  that  stage 
is  reached  there  will  come  a popular 
and  insistent  demand  for  a town  mu- 
seum to  be  conducted  in  co-operation 
with  the  library.  This,  in  a locality 
so  rich  in  historic,  natural,  and  in- 
dustrial resources,  is  just  what 
Greensboro  ought  to  have  and  what 
in  its  turn  would  enhance  the  ever- 
increasing  usefulness  of  our  library. 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


13 


WHAT  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
SHOULD  MEAN  TO  THE  CHILD. 


By  Mrs.  E.  Sternberger. 

Have  you  ever  stopped  to  think 
how  little  thought  is  expended  on  the 
child  as  a factor  in  life?  We  treat 
children  as  toys;  we  amuse  and  pre- 
serve them,  but  few  of  us  think  seri- 
ously that  they  are  the  men  and  wom- 
en of  tomorrow.  We  sit  and  reflect 
and  how  fondly  do  we  think  on  our 
childhood  scenes,  the  home,  the 
friends,  and  even  the  games  we  play- 
ed. Realizing  this,  should  we  not 
include  the  Public  Library  among  our 
children’s  early  haunts.  There  they 
will  find  pleasure,  at  the  same  time 
developing  thought. 

Let  any  of  us  do  a thing  a few 
times,  it  soon  becomes  a habit:  what 
better  habit  than  the  Library  habit, 
what  better  friends  than  books,  and 
here  are  our  friends  judiciously  chos- 
en and  under  proper  supervision.  Let 
all  of  us  concern  ourselves  with  and 
learn  better  our  Library. 

In  Greensboro,  we  are  most  fortun- 
ate in  having  such  able,  broad-minded, 
excellent  people  in  charge  of  this 
important  institution.  May  I ask 
more  of  the  mothers  to  visit  the  li- 
brary with  their  children,  and  see 
what  we  have  to  interest  and  instruct 
as  well  as  entertain  and  please  the 
children.  A delightful,  sunny,  pleas- 
ant, well  ventilated  children’s  room. 
Would  that  the  mothers  might  get  so 
well  acquainted  with  the  library  as 
to  know  its  needs,  and  help  supply 
them.  Children  imitate  the  grown- 
ups, let’s  bear  that  in  mind.  Every 
child  loves  a story  and  long  before 
they  can  read  do  they  enjoy  pictures. 
Where  can  they  get  this  so  well  as 
by  becoming  interested  in  and  ac- 


quainted with  minerals,  historical 
events,  etc.? 

We  must  determine  to  make  our 
children’s  room  the  best  possible,  and 
help  them  enjoy  this  privilege  at  the 
same  time  make  the  “afternoon  nurse 
is  out,”  a joy  to  ourselves  and  the 
children.  The  child  having  learned  to 
love  the  place,  in  just  a little  while  is 
it  a necessity  to  him,  especially  dur- 
ing his  school  period,  then  still  later, 
he  will  feel  such  pride  and  interest  in 
this  worthy  institution  that  every- 
thing that  concerns  the  library  will 
mean  much  to  him.  I hope  that  each 
mother  will  go  with  her  children  and 
together  they  will  become  acquainted 
with  this  place  which  must  and  does 
.mean  much  to  all. 


READING  FOR  OUR  BOYS  AND 
GIRLS. 


By  Henry  W.  Wharton. 

It  was  my  pleasure,  recently,  to 
take  a look  over  the  children’s  depart- 
ment at  the  Carnegie  Library  of  this 
city  and  I was  delighted  to  learn  the 
extent  to  which  this  department  is 
used  by  the  young  people.  I think  as 
a rule,  when  we  think  about  chil- 
dren’s books  and  magazines,  we  in- 
stinctively think  of  fairy  stories,  Un- 
cle Remus  and  other  delightful  litera- 
ture but  seldom  does  it  occur  to  us 
that  there  are  books  and  magazines 
that  not  only  interest,  but  actually 
bear  directly  on  the  future  occupa- 
tions of  the  reader.  It  was  interest- 
ing to  learn  that  a great  many  young 
people  are  constant  visitors  at  the 
library  for  the  purpose  of  studying 
along  a large  variety  of  technical 
lines  of  thought  and  that  this  line  of 
study  is  all  the  time  increasing  as  the 


14 


Vacation  Visits  To  Our  Public  Library 


equipment  of  the  institution  is  en- 
larged. 

I find  that  the  following  magazines 
are  received  regularly  and  are  read 
with  eagerness  by  the  boys  and  girls: 
“Popular  Electricity,”  “Popular  Me- 
chanics” (which  treats  of  every- 
thing along  mechanical  lines,  includ- 
ing flying  machines),  “Shop  Notes,” 
which  is  on  the  order  of  The  Scien- 
tific American,  “American  Boy,” 
“Youth’s  Companion,”  and  “St.  Nich- 
olas,” the  last  three  being  purely  for 
amusement.  In  this  list  of  first  nam- 
ed periodicals  almost  every  scientific 
subject  is  treated  and  it  is  by  read- 
ing things  of  this  kind  that  a boy 
often  “finds  himself;”  by  this  I mean 
that  in  reading  and  studying  along 
certain  lines  of  usefulness,  a boy  will 
discover  the  calling  that  he  is  most 
fit  for. 

I am  of  the  opinion  that  one  of  the 
most  difficult  things  for  parents  is  to 
get  boys  started  in  life  in  the  voca- 
tion best  fitted  for  them.  So  often 
we  hear  men  declare  that  their  early 
years  have  been  thrown  away  be- 
cause of  starting  out  wrong.  In  the 
old  days  every  one  who  could,  went 
to  college  and  studied  the  same 
things,  read  the  same  books  and  came 
out  after  four  years  prepared  to  be- 
come a doctor,  lawyer  or  preacher 
and  after  trying  one  of  the  three  vo- 
cations for  a few  years  would  discov- 
er that  he  was  fitted  to  be  a black- 
smith, farmer  or  railroad  engineer. 
With  the  equipmen  at  our  libraries 
and  other  institutions  today  it  is  pos- 
sible to  avoid  the  mistakes  of  our 
forefathers. 

In  speaking  of  the  list  of  magazines 
for  the  young  I did  not  intend  to  over- 
look the  charming  books  of  every 
description  in  this  department.  There 
are  books  on  almost  every  subject  a 


boy  or  a girl  could  possibly  wish  to 
take  up ; if  a boy  wishes  to  study 
birds  or  animals,  there  are  a dozen  or 
more  illustrated  books  on  this  sub- 
ject; if  he  wants  to  know  how  to 
build  a boat,  a house,  a tent,  or  in 
fact  anything  a boy  is  interested  in, 
there  are  Dan  Beard’s  splendid  books 
which  give  minute  descriptions  of 
how  to  make  them.  There  are  also 
books  of  travel,  history  and  fiction 
that  delight  the  heart  of  the  young 
and  if  the  boys  and  girls  who  read 
this  are  not  taking  advantage  of  all 
this  wealth  of  reading  matter  I am 
sorry  for  you.  When  I was  a boy  a 
good  book  was  a luxury  that  one  talk- 
ed about  for  days  and  it  makes  me 
almost  envious  now  to  see  the  splen- 
did profusion  of  books  for  the  young 
almost  thrust  on  them. 

It  is  hard  to  believe  in  view  of  the 
above  that  there  are  a lot  of  young 
people  who  never  take  advantage  of 
our  library,  but  there  is  possibly  an 
excuse  for  some  who  do  not  avail 
themselves  of  this  privilege;  some  do 
not  go  because  they  have  never  been 
before  and  have  an  idea  that  in  order 
to  get  a book  they  have  to  show  their 
ignorance  of  books  in  general;  they 
do  not  know  what  to  ask  for  and  for 
a number  of  reasons  have  never 
started  using  the  library.  It  is  possi- 
ble that  in  some  libraries  a visitor 
may  not  feel  at  home  but  never  in 
ours.  If  you  want  to  find  a book  or 
magazine  that  will  be  of  help  in 
writing  a composition  on  any  sub- 
ject, all  you  have  to  do  is  to  ask  the 
librarians  and  they  yvill  do  the  rest; 
suppose  you  want  to  see  what  prog- 
ress is  being  made  with  flying  ma- 
chines, they  will  load  you  down  with 
all  sorts  of  information  on  the  sub- 
ject. In  closing  this  paper,  I would 
urge  parents  to  take  their  children  to 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


15 


the  library  and  let  them  get  ac- 
quainted with  the  librarians  so  they 
will  feel  at  home  when  they  go  there 
by  themselves.  The  children’s  room 
is  just  as  attractive  as  it  can  be  made 
and  even  if  a child  does  not  use  the 
books  he  will  enjoy  visiting  this  beau- 
tiful room  with  lovely  pictures,  bird 
eggs,  birds,  butterflies,  and  lots  of 
other  interesting  things.  One  of  the 
saddest  things  one  meets  up  with  is 
that  so  many  people  have  never 
formed  the  habit  of  reading  and  learn- 
ing to  use  useful  information  when 
they  were  young.  Reading  is  a habit 
that  is  rarely  acquired  when  one  be- 
comes old. 

If  these  lines  shall  have  the  result 
of  bringing  one  child  to  the  acquaint- 
ance of  the  pleasures  to  be  found  in 
books,  I shall  feel  repaid  for  what  I 
have  done. 


NATURE  BOOKS. 


By  Virginia  B.  Douglas. 

Little  known  but  most  attractive  is 
that  group  of  books  in  our  library 
which  deals  with  out-of-door  life. 

A number  of  these  books  are  wise- 
ly put  in  the  children’s  room,  and  it 
is  hard  to  find  more  helpful  summer 
reading;  for  they  introduce  the  chil- 
dren into  a new  world — almost  a 
dream-world  in  its  marvelous  beauty. 
Fancy  itself  can  picture  nothing 
stranger  than  many  forms  of  animal 
and  plant  life;  fishes  that  carry  their 
own  lanterns  around  with  them  to 
furnish  light  in  the  eternal  darkness 
of  their  deep-sea  homes;  ants  that 
live  in  regular  cities  and  go  to  battle 
with  other  ant  cities  as  disciplined 
armies  under  their  chosen  command- 
ers; beavers  that  build  cunningly 
constructed  houses  and  plaster  them 
with  their  tails  for  trowels;  birds  that 


can  fly  straight  home  no  manner  how 
far  away  nor  in  what  directions  they 
have  come;  and  so  on  through  an  al- 
most endless  list  of  strange  and  won- 
derful things. 

Nor  do  these  books  tell  only  of 
great  wonders  of  nature  which  are 
many  miles  away.  The  bird  books 
and  flower  books,  especially,  aid  us 
greatly  in  understanding  and  enjoying 
the  woods  and  fields  which  lie  imme- 
diately around  us.  And  then,  too,  col- 
ored illustrations  and  accurate  de- 
scriptions give  almost  a personal  in- 
troduction to  our  wild  neighbors. 

These  books  are  by  no  means  alike, 
but  varied  to  suit  the  most  divergent 
tastes.  A natural  history  gives  infor- 
mation to  those  seeking  simply  in- 
formation; Thompson  Seton  teaches 
the  ways  of  the  animals  by  introduc- 
ing us  to  individuals  as  characters 
are  introduced  in  a novel;  Old  John 
Burroughs,  scarcely  less  of  a poet 
than  a naturalist,  shows  us  the  beau- 
ties as  well  as  the  facts  of  nature; 
Mathews  has  reduced  the  songs  of 
the  well  known  birds  to  musical  no- 
tation so  that  at  home  on  the  piano 
we  can  learn  their  calls;  Blanchan 
and  Reed  have  worked  out  sets  of 
natural  color  plates  by  means  of 
which  we  may  recognize  them  at 
sight;  Gibson’s  “Eye  Spy”  is  an  ex- 
cursion into  the  homes  of  every-day 
insects;  while  Sir  John  Lubbock,  the 
well  known  British  scientist,  shows 
the  interwoven  relations  in  wood  life 
and  the  beautiful  harmony  existing 
throughout  nature ; with  numerous 
other  authors  treating  the  subject 
from  various  viewpoints  and  in  vari- 
ous ways. 

Of  course  no  amount  of  reading  can 
take  the  place  of  a personal  acquaint- 
ance with  our  neighbors  of  wood  and 
field,  but  until  one  is  able  to  bring  to 


16 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


the  aid  of  personal  observation  at 
least  a certain  amount  of  knowledge 
of  the  subject,  the  great  out-of-doors 
is  almost  too  vast  and  intricate  to  be 
properly  appreciated  as  a real  friend 
and  companion. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  HELPS. 

By  N.  L.  Eure. 

In  a few  words  I wish  to  call  the 
attention  of  the  Sunday  School  teach- 
ers and  workers  of  the  city  to  our 
public  library  as  an  aid  to  the  study 
of  the  International  Sunday  School 
lessons. 

Most  of  our  church  denominations 
furnish  excellent  helps  for  such  study 
and  many  of  the  teachers  supply 
themselves  with  other  useful  litera- 
ture for  the  purpose,  but  I am  quite 
certain  that  no  Sunday  School  teacher 
in  Greensboro  has  a Sunday  School 
library  that  will  compare  favorably  in 
all  respects  with  that  portion  of  the 
public  library  which  may  be  used  for 
the  study  and  preparation  of  the  Sun- 
day School  lessons.  In  the  public  li- 
brary you  can  get  the  lessons  in  some 
short  notes  specially  prepared  for 
busy  people  or  you  can  call  to  your 
aid  many  books  and  periodicals  which 
will  give  you  a comprehensive  outline 
of  the  lessons  and  every  phase  and 
setting  of  them  in  detail.  I am  quite 
sure  that  it  would  be  a considerable 
task  to  search  out  and  name  all  the 
books  and  periodicals  in  this  excellent 
library  which  may  be  found  useful  in 
the  study  of  our  Sunday  School  les- 
sons. A few  of  them,  however,  which 
I will  name  are — Peloubet’s  Select 
Notes,  Mrs.  Tarbell’s  Teacher’s  Guide, 
the  Sunday  School  Times,  a compre- 
hensive commentary  of  the  Bible,  a 
Bible  encyclopaedia  illustrated,  con- 
cordances and  Bible  dictionaries,  the 


new  Encyclopaedia  Britannica  and 
other  reference  works,  missionary 
and  temperance  literature  in  abund- 
ance, history  contemporary  with  sub- 
ject of  lesson  text,  and  many  other 
books  and  works  too  numerous  to 
mention. 

The  public  library  is  a fine  place 
to  visit.  It  is  quiet  and  home-like, 
and  you  can  hardly  conceive  of  a 
more  ideal  place  in  which  to  prepare 
your  lessons.  If  your  subject  is  about 
missions  you  find  quite  Jiandy  almost 
a complete  missionary  library  which 
touches  upon  nearly  every  phase  of 
missionary  work.  If  your  lesson  is 
about  temperance  you  have  only  to 
reach  up  and  pull  down  the  latest 
statistics  on  the  subject,  and  if  you 
desire  the  last  word  uttered  on  tem- 
perance the  librarians,  by  their  fine 
index  system,  are  able  to  hand  you 
the  same  at  a moment’s  notice.  And 
in  fact  the  public  library  has  ample 
reading  matter  to  fully  enlighten  you 
on  all  Sunday  School  lessons  and  sub- 
jects and  on  every  phase  of  them. 

In  entreat  you  to  visit  the  library 
often  and  to  study  every  side  and 
aspect  of  it,  and  if  you  have  not  done 
so  already,  I am  sure  you  will  discov- 
er it  to  be  one  of  Greensboro’s  great- 
est and  most  useful  institutions. 


MISSION  STUDY. 

By  J.  T.  J.  Battle. 

Some  time  ago  I was  interested  in 
looking  up  statistics  in  regard  to  mis- 
sions in  the  foreign  fields,  but  soon 
found  myself  completely  at  sea  for 
the  want  of  literature  along  this  line. 
Since  the  opening  of  the  library  here 
I had  visited  it,  up  to  this  time,  very 
seldom.  Thinking  I might  find  some- 
thing to  help  me  out  I called  and 
made  my  wants  known  to  the  libra- 


Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


11 


rian.  Very  soon  I was  astonished  and 
much  gratified  at  the  information  fur- 
nished me,  so  I had  at  my  finger  tips 
what  I had  considered  was  out  of  my 
reach. 

That  incident  taught  me  to  appre- 
ciate our  library,  and  on  many  occa- 
sions since  have  I realized  what  a 
splendid  collection  of  books  we  have, 
and  what  a mine  of  information  is 
there  waiting  for  our  citizens’  use.  I 
frankly  admit  I did  not  appreciate 
what  we  have  here  until  driven  to  it, 
and  doubtless  many  are  now  failing 
to  take  advantage  of  this  opportunity 
because  they  have  not  investigated 
for  themselves. 

The  attention  the  library  so  cordial- 
ly extends  to  the  patrons  is  calcula- 
ted to  make  us  live  longer,  read  more 
and  digest  it  better.  If  any  of  our 
citizens  are  not  visiting  the  library, 
they  are  missing  many  pleasant  and 
elevating  moments,  as  well  as  an  op- 
portunity to  add  to  their  fund  of 
knowledge. 


DOMESTIC  SCIENCE. 

By  M.  D.  A.  Staples. 

A little  homely  shelf  in  our  fast 
growing  Public  Library,  that  probably 
attracts  as  many  old  housekeepers  as 
new  and  up-to-date  ones,  is  that  re- 
served for  Domestic  Science — and 
naturally  so;  has  not  one  of  Eng- 
land’s popular  peers,  poets,  novelists, 
prose  writers — Sir  Lytton  Bulwer — 
“Owen  Meredith” — said,  “One  may 
live  without  poetry,  music,  art,  con- 
science, ‘heart,’  friends,  books,  hope, 
‘love,’  but  where  is  the  man  that 
can  live  without  ‘dining’?” 

Now,  since  “civilized  man  cannot 
live  without  cooks,”  consider  these 
shelves  and  be  wise,  dear  Miss  or 
Madam,  for  unto  each  of  your  lives, 


at  some  time  or  other,  in  some  way 
or  other,  comes  Prince  Charming,  the 
way  into  whose  heart,  we’ve  been 
told,  is  through  his  creature  comforts. 
Home  making  largely  consists  in  the 
comforts  of  this  life,  even  though 
they  be,  by  no  means,  all  of  it! 

Some  have  naturally  more  ability 
than  others,  even  on  this  line,  domes- 
ticity— yet  dear  girls,  think  not  the 
mantle  of  your  mother’s  ability  will 
fall  gracefully  around  you  without  be- 
ing prepared  for  it.  Before  the  wed- 
ding day,  read  “Just  for  Two,”  by 
Amelia  Langdon,  that  you  may  keep 
house  “so  charmingly,  home  will  be 
the  greatest  magnet  to  the  other  one.” 
Marion  Harland’s  comments,  in  be- 
tween the  lines  of  her  recipes,  will 
stand  reading  aloud  to  “him”  even, 
they  are  so  intelligent  and  entertain- 
ing, whilst  the  “hints”  themselves 
for  “All  over  the  House,”  help  to 
make  the  machinery  of  the  household 
move  on  so  smoothly!  Here’s  “Break- 
fast Dishes,”  “Dinner  Dishes,”  “Des- 
serts,” “Luncheons,”  “Cakes  and 
Cookies.”  Next  is  Olive  Green’s 
“Everyday  Dishes,”  and  the  question 
answered  “What  to  Have  for  Break- 
fast?” 

’Tis  the  French,  is  it  not,  who  say 
they  can  live  on  the  waste  of  an 
American  kitchen?  That  we  have 
shown  we  need  not  be  prodigal  of  re- 
sources, Mrs.  Rorer  shows  in  “Made 
Over  Dishes,”  “Every  Day  Menus,” 
and  “Canning  and  Preserving.” 

For  the  utilization  of  the  resources 
of  modern  science,  to  improve  the 
home  life,  the  ideal  home  life  of  to- 
day, unhampered  by  the  traditions  of 
the  past,  the  simplicity  in  material 
surroundings  which  will  most  fill  the 
spirit  for  the  more  important  and 
permanent  interests  of  the  home  and 
of  society,  what  a compendium  one 


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Vacation  Visits  to  Our  Public  Library 


finds  in  the  twelve  volumes  of  “The 
Library  of  Home  Economics,”  includ- 
ing “The  House,”  by  Bevier,  “House- 
hold Bacteriology,”  “Household  Hy- 
giene,” “Chemistry  of  the  Household,” 
“Principles  of  Cooking,”  “Food  and 
Dietetics,”  “Household  Management,” 
“Personal  Hygiene,”  “Home  Care  of 
the  Sick,”  “Textiles  and  Clothing,” 
“Study  of  Child  Life”  and  “Care  of 
Children.” 

Next  is  “Domestic  Encyclopedia,” 
which  speaks  for  itself.  Then  turn 
to  the  tables,  and  find  those  periodi- 
cals so  dear  to  the  womanly  heart, 
“The  Delineator,”  “Woman’s  Home 
Companion”  and  “Ladies’  Home  Jour- 
nal”— a new  joy  for  each  month,  and 
all  the  time! 

And  last,  but  by  no  manner  of 
means  least,  our  own  Normal  Bulle- 
tin— The  Domestic  Science  Number — 
by  Miss  Jamison.  Illustrations  show 
“Where  Household  Arts  are  Taught,” 
and  “The  Domestic  Science  Labora- 
tory.” Every  woman  in  Greensboro, 
and  of  the  “Old  North  State”  for  that 
matter,  should  read  this  charmingly 
written  and  instructive  number  of  the 
Bulletin  by  this  member  of  the  Nor- 
mal faculty;  it  is  certainly  a compen- 
dium of  every  day,  home  usefulness, 
giving  courses  on  Home  and  Hearth, 
Household  Bacteriology,  Food  and 
Dietetics,  Household  Chemistry, 
Household  Sanitation  and  Economics, 
Textiles,  Serving,  Dressmaking,  Milli- 
nery, Household  Decoration,  Hygiene, 
Physiology,  Physical  Training,  and 
oh!  so  many  receipes  for  everything, 
all  having  been  tested  at  the  college. 

So  much  has  home-making  become 
a profession,  it  is  now  rated  among 
the  education  correspondence  courses, 
the  bulletin  of  which  you’ll  find  on 
the  tables  of  the  library. 

So  great,  they  remind  us  has  been 


industrial  ^evolution,  there  has  been 
as  great  a revolution! 

Factories  now  supply  what  the  once 
over-burdened  housewife  was  com- 
pelled to  do;  so  that  now  the  family 
of  moderate  means,  may  have  the 
luxuries  beyond  the  purse  of  the  rich 
of  long  ago;  may  have,  scientifically 
and  hygienicially,  planned,  construct- 
ed and  conducted  homes  from  the 
least  to  the  greatest! 

The  center  of  national  and  social 
life  is  home — the  center  of  home  is 
woman!  Put  your  heart  into  it,  dear 
woman.  Everything  happens  here 
that  makes  for  the  welfare  of  soul, 
mind,  and  body. 

The  conditions  of  society  are  such 
that  as  yet,  for  every  influence  in  the 
home,  there  are  many  outside,  against 
that  influence;  but  do  your  best,  there 
all  the  honor  lies,  and  “he  that  goeth 
forth,  even  with  tears,  sowing  good 
seed  shall,  doubtless,  come  again, 
bearing  his  sheaves  with  him.” 


GENERAL  REFERENCE  WORK. 


By  W.  C.  Jackson. 

An  old  teacher  of  mine  was  accus- 
tomed to  tell  his  classes  that  college 
students  were  not  expected  to  know 
very  much,  but  they  were  expected  to 
know  where  and  how  to  find  anything 
that  they  did  want  to  know.  The  vast 
multiplication  of  knowledge — the  ma- 
terials of  minds — makes  it  impossible 
for  even  the  most  learned,  to  acquire 
but  a meager  part  of  it.  This  multi- 
plication of  knowledge,  and  this  de- 
mand of  the  student — in  college  or 
out — to  know  where  and  how  he  may 
find  anything  and  everything  that  he 
might  want,  has  produced  the  General 
Reference  Work — the  Department 
Store  of  Modern  Literature. 

In  a community  such  as  ours,  the 


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Reference  Department  of  a Library 
should  serve  a greater  variety  of  pa- 
trons than  any  other  department.  And 
the  value  of  a library  to  the  commun- 
ity can  be  determined  in  large  meas- 
ure by  the  amount  and  character  of 
the  reference  work  that  it  does.  It 
is  to  this  department  that  all  classes 
of  workers  come — ministers,  teach- 
ers, lawyers,  college  students,  club 
members,  business  men,  school  chil- 
dren. It  is  here  that  information  can 
be  secured  on  all  kinds  of  subjects — 
History,  Literature,  Music,  Art,  Re- 
ligion, Government,  Science. 

How  is  our  own  library  equipped 
for  this  sort  of  work?  First,  always, 
come  the  Encyclopaedias.  We  have 
the  very  latest  edition  of  the  Brittan- 
ica,  and  the  first  edition  of  the  New 
International  was  gotten  right  off  the 
press.  These  are  invaluable.  In 
American  History  there  is  the  Nation- 
al Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biogra- 
phy, and  the  Making  of  America,  be- 
sides many  others.  In  Poetry  there 
is  the  World’s  Best  Poetry,  Bartlett’s 
Concordance  to  Shakespeare,  and  for 
general  literature,  Warner’s  Library 
of  the  World’s  Best  Literature. 

Larned’s  History  for  Ready  Refer- 
ence and  Topical  Reading  is  very 
valuable. 

In  Music  and  Art,  there  are  Sir 
George  Grove’s  Dictionary  of  Music 
and  Musicians,  Elson’s  History  of 
American  Music,  Lubke’s  History  of 
Art,  and  the  files  of  music  and  art 
magazines. 

For  Southern  History  and  Litera- 
ture, there  are,  besides  much  other 
valuable  material.  The  Library  of 
Southern  Literature,  and  The  South 
in  the  Building  of  the  Nation. 

The  library  has  quite  a large  collec- 
tion of  pamphlets  which  are  of  im- 
mense value  in  reference  work.  It 


also  carries  the  unbound  files  of  a 
number  of  magazines  and  newspa- 
pers. 

Then  there  are  the  Government 
Documents,  Who’s  Who,  Who’s  Who 
in  America,  the  Statesman’s  Year 
Book,  Thomas’  Register  of  American 
Manufacturers,  a number  of  valuable 
Almanacs — all  indispensable  to  the 
seeker  after  general  information. 

Special  mention  should  be  made  of 
some  of  the  works  for  the  children: 
notably,  Harper’s  Encyclopedia  of 
American  History,  Champlin’s  Ency- 
clopedia, and  a complete  set  of  St. 
Nicholas — files  for  37  years,  well 
bound,  with  index.  This  set  of  St. 
Nicholas  is  especially  fine. 

This  of  course  does  not  purport  to 
be  anything  like  a complete  list  of 
the  books  in  the  Reference  Depart- 
ment, but  it  will  suffice  to  give  some 
idea  of  the  excellent  equipment  for 
the  general  worker.  How  good  this 
equipment  is  may  be  attested  to  by 
large  numbers  of  the  citizens  of 
Greensboro,  especially  those  who 
have  participated  in.  debates,  who 
have  had  papers  of  various  kinds  to 
prepare  at  various  times,  and — per- 
haps the  largest  cloud  of  witnesses — 
the  school  children,  who  are  always 
so  heartily  welcome. 

It  may  easily  be  seen  that  the  liter- 
ary worker  in  Greensboro  may  find 
in  his  public  library  ample  tools  for 
the  execution  of  his  work. 


PROBLEM  OF  THE  CLUB  PAPERS. 


By  Mrs.  Gaston  Ward. 

The  average  woman,  with  her  pe- 
culiar domestic  and  social  environ- 
ments, is  generally  at  best,  a desul- 
tory reader,  and  if  she  happen  to  be- 
long to  a society  or  club,  organized 
for  any  kind  of  study,  where  periodi- 


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cal  papers  are  required  of  the  mem- 
bers she  will  often  find  the  work 
of  securing  material  for  the  intelli- 
gent treatment  of  her  subject  a seri- 
ous matter. 

The  themes  usually  selected  for 
these  monthly  or  semi-monthly  papers 
range  with  lofty  and  majestic  sweep 
through  realms  of  science,  art,  his- 
tory, literature  and  what  not,  and  the 
particular  topic  which  has  fallen  to 
her  may  be  one  upon  which  a whole 
year’s  work  might  be  wisely  bestowed 
and  yet,  within  the  hour,  at  a single 
meeting  it  must  be  discussed  and  dis- 
posed of,  with  time  left  for  “tea  and 
conversation.”  The  compounding  of 
literary  pellets  so  highly  concentrated 
calls  for  skilled  workmen  and  a labra- 
tory  of  the  best  equipment,  and  bring- 
ing to  the  task,  as  she  perhaps  does, 
small  knowledge  of  the  subject  and 
smaller  training  in  literary  research 
her  efforts  will,  without  proper  guid- 
ance, result  in  a needless  waste  of 
time  and  vain  flounderings  through  a 
veritable  slough  of  despond,  in  ran- 
dom search  through  miscellaneous 
volumes  for  the  possession  of  a few 
main  facts. 

Just  here  the  helpfulness  of  a well- 
ordered  library  is  self  evident,  and 
where  access  to  such  an  one  is  pos- 
sible these  difficulties  are  to  a great 
extent  removed.  With  the  aid  of  en- 
cyclopedias, books,  newspapers  and 
magazines  conveniently  filed  and  in- 
dexed for  rapid  and  accurate  refer- 
ence the  work  of  compiling,  even 
where  there  is  slight  previous  ac- 
quaintance with  the  subject,  may  be 
so  systematized  as  to  become  at  once 
interesting  and  comparatively  easy  to 
the  untrained,  as  well  as  the  more 
practiced  writer. 


AIDS  FOR  ART  STUDENTS. 


By  Isabella  Swaim. 

Just  prior  to  the  opening  of  the 
Greensboro  Public  Library  the  Greens- 
boro Art  Club  was  organized,  and  the 
charter  members  have  cause  to  re- 
member their  doubtful  achievement 
of  mapping  out  a year’s  course  of 
study  with  no  helps  other  than  the 
encyclopaedia  and  the  “Art  Inter- 
change.” 

Since  the  establishment  of  the  li- 
brary the  student  now  has  access  to 
a number  of  the  best  text-books  on 
art,  including  Lubke’s  “History  of 
Art,”  John  Van  Dyck’s  “History  of 
Art,”  twelve  hand-books  on  art  by 
Estelle  Hurll,  hand-books  on  German, 
Dutch  and  Flemish  painting,  “Schools 
and  Masters  in  Painting  and  Sculp- 
ture,” by  Radcliffe,  and  a “Manual  of 
Historic  Ornament.”  Ruskin’s  “Mod- 
ern Painters”  is  to  be  found  on  the 
shelves,  and  two  excellent  works  on 
Modern  Mural  Painting.  Also  “Twelve 
American  Painters”  by  Chas.  Caffin, 
one  of  the  foremost  American  art 
critics. 

“Women  Painters  of  the  World”  is 
a handsome  volume  contributed  by 
one  of  the  library’s  friends. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  and  valu- 
able books  is  “Nineteenth  Century 
Art,”  by  D.  S.  MacColl,  its  many  il- 
lustrations being  reproductions  of  the 
paintings  exhibited  at  the  Internation- 
al Exhibition  held  at  Glasgow  in  1901. 
It  will  be  especially  helpful  to  those 
studying  modern  British  art. 

Each  month  the  “International  Stu- 
dio” with  its  exquisite  color-plates, 
and  that  most  attractive  magazine, 
the  “Craftsman,”  are  to  be  found  in 
the  reading  room.  These  two  period- 
icals treat  almost  exclusively  of  mod- 
ern art.  The  back  numbers  of  both. 


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21 


together  with  “Masters  in  Art”  are 
kept  on  file  and  are  a constant  source 
of  pleasure  and  information. 

In  studying  the  history  of  art  it  is 
very  necessary  to  see  pictures  per- 
taining to  the  subject  in  hand,  for 
the  most  vivid  description  of  a mas- 
terpiece does  not  make  the  clear  and 
lasting  impression  on  the  mind  that 
even  a small  and  imperfect  reproduc- 
tion of  the  picture  does. 

So,  it  is  to  the  magazine  illustra- 
tions as  well  as  to  the  other  helps  to 
be  found  at  the  Public  Library,  that 
our  students  of  art  history  owe  much 
of  their  knowledge  of  the  world’s  art. 

For  this  reason  alone  accessibility 
to  the  many  indexed  magazines,  the 
clubs  making  a study  of  art  prefer  to 
hold  their  meetings  at  the  library 
rather  than  in  the  homes  of  the  mem- 
bers. 

From  time  to  time  the  art  organi- 
zations of  the  city  have  held  free  ex- 
hibitions of  American  art  in  the  as- 
sembly room  of  the  library.  This  at- 
tractive and  well-lighted  room,  with 
its  good  wall-space  and  central  loca- 
tion, is  probably  better  suited  to  this 
purpose  than  any  other  in  the  city. 


SERVICE  FOR  DEBATES. 

By  A.  M.  Scales. 

Few  exercises  of  the  school  or  col- 
lege are  more  useful  than  those  of 
the  debating  society.  These  exercises 
require  original  work  on  the  part  of 
the  student  and  broaden  and  strength- 
en the  mind  to  a far  greater  extent 
than  the  ordinary  study  of  books  and 
recital  of  lessons.  The  work  of  the 
debating  society  has  proven  its  value 
throughout  an  experience  of  many 
years  and  now  the  practice  of  deba- 
ting among  students  has  extended  so 
that  not  only  are  these  debates  held 


among  the  students  of  our  colleges, 
and  of  other  colleges,  but  they  are 
held  with  great  profit  in  high  schools, 
preparatory  schools  of  all  kinds  and 
even  in  the  lower  grades  of  the  gra- 
ded and  private  schools. 

While  the  work  of  debating  is  large- 
ly original,  yet  the  student  must  have 
facts  and  materials  to  use,  which  he 
cannot  get  out  of  his  own  mind  and 
which  he  can  rarely  get  in  the  home 
library.  As  a consequence  of  this 
most  of  them  have  been  driven  to  the 
writing  of  letters  to  their  friends  and 
to  men  in  public  life,  asking  for  sug- 
gestions, facts,  materials  and  assist- 
ance of  one  kind  and  other.  With 
the  rapid  spread,  however,  of  the 
free  libary  such  means  of  securing  as- 
sistance are  becoming  less  and  less 
necessary,  and  in  our  own  city  there 
is  no  excuse  for  any  student  to  seek 
aid  anywhere  outside  of  the  Greens- 
boro Public  Library. 

The  writer  had  occasion  some  time 
ago  to  examine  into  the  ways  the  li- 
brary was  prepared  to  meet  these  real 
demands  of  the  pupils  of  our  schools 
and  colleges  and  was  much  pleased 
to  find  that  the  library,  although  not 
as  fully  equipped  as  its  librarians 
hope  it  will  be,  is  ready  to  meet  every 
such  demand  and  the  material  on 
hand  was  found  to  be  excellent  and 
the  ease  with  which  this  material 
can  be  found  is  greatly  to  be  com- 
mended. In  addition  to  the  regular 
system,  which  enables  one  to  find 
various  articles  in  magazines,  the  li- 
brarians prepare  a special  index  to 
magazines  and  periodicals  which  is 
of  great  assistance  to  all  who  desire 
to  get  facts  for  a debate.  In  addition 
to  these  there  are  books  dealing  di- 
rectly with  the  subject  and  books 
taking  up  those  subjects  which  are 
commonly  debated  in  our  country, 


22 


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and  giving  much  useful  aid  and  many 
valuable  suggestions. 

As  our  schools  are  about  to  open, 
the  writer  would  advise  all  who  are 
assigned  to  debate  to  visit  the  library 
and  ask  the  librarians  for  the  assist- 
ance needed.  The  librarians  are 
anxious  at  all  times  to  make  the  li- 
brary of  the  greatest  service  to  the 
city  and  to  make  it,  what  indeed  it  is, 
a very  important  part  of  our  system 
of  public  education. 


THE  LIBRARY  AS  A CIVIC  CENTER 


By  R.  C.  Hood. 

The  Greensboro  Public  Library  has 
been  of  great  value  and  inspiration  to 
local  organizations  working  for  the 
improvement  of  civic  conditions. 

In  addition  to  the  splendid  collec- 
tion of  reading  matter  bearing  on 
many  of  these  lines,  the  Assembly 
Hall  has  afforded  excellent  facilities 
for  the  meetings  of  organized  bodies, 
as  well  as  for  the  holding  of  special 
lectures,  such  as  those  by  Professor 
Hammel  to  the  boys  on  matters  elec- 
trical; by  Mr.  Enos  A.  Mills,  on  For- 
estry; by  Prof.  Gilbert  Pearson,  on 
Bird  Life;  by  Professor  Wyche,  on 
the  work  of  Joel  Chandler  Harris;  by 
Dr.  S.  B.  Weeks  and  Prof.  W.  C. 
Smith,  on  North  Carolina  history;  by 
Dr.  H.  W.  Smith  and  Prof.  W.  C.  Jack- 
son  on  literature;  by  Dr.  Shepperd, 


on  Robert  E.  Lee;  by  State  Geologist 
Pratt  on  North  Carolina  minerals; 
and  for  the  Story  Hour  entertainment 
by  various  ladies;  the  Art  Loan  Ex- 
hibitions; and  the  Boys’  Exhibition 
of  articles  collected  and  constructed 
by  the  boys  of  Greensboro.  This  lat- 
ter was  particularly  notable  in  this 
community  and  surprising  yet  agree- 
able in  its  results.  It  indicated  very 
clearly  the  possible  productiveness  of 
youth  along  practical  lines,  where  in- 
centive and  encouragement  are  given. 
This,  as  well  as  some  others,  should 
by  all  means  become  a regular  fea- 
ture and  be  held  annually. 

In  the  library  auditorium  have  been 
held  the  first  or  organization  meet- 
ings of  such  bodies  as  the  Civic 
League,  the  Woman’s  Club,  the  Play 
Ground  Association,  After  School 
Club,  Anti-Tuberculosis  Association, 
the  Arts  and  Crafts  Guild;  and  is 
considered  the  home  and  meeting 
place  of  these,  as  well  as  the  G.  F. 
and  Normal  local  Alumnae  Associa- 
tions, and  the  Guilford  County  Histor- 
ical Association  (which  keeps  its  col- 
lection there),  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution,  the  Daughters 
of  the  Confederacy,  the  W.  C.  T.  U. ; 
and  also  contains  the  Loan  Library 
of  the  County  Medical  Association. 
The  rooms  are  open  to  such  organiza- 
tions without  any  charge  whatever, 
and  to  all  is  given  the  most  interested 
cooperation  by  those  in  charge. 


